Grammy nominated Metropolitan Opera star Victoria Livengood has been hailed as “one of the leading singer-actresses of her generation.”
Since her acclaimed Metropolitan Opera debut with James Levine in 1991, the Thomasville, North Carolina-native has skyrocketed into the opera scene and has become known for her dynamic portrayals in more than 100 Met performances, including the title role of Carmen opposite Placido Domingo, which was a lifetime dream come true.
She has sung over 80 different roles with opera companies throughout Europe, South America, Canada and Asia, including Barcelona, Madrid, Salzburg, Taipei, Las Palmas, Monte Carlo, Nice, Santiago, Cologne, Vancouver, Montreal, and in Buenos Aires, as well as at Italy’s Spoleto Festival, where she closely collaborated with composer and dear friend, Gian Carlo Menotti.
Nevertheless, it is in America that this Dixie Diva has primarily based her 30 year career, having sung leading roles with the companies of Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angelas, Santa Fe, Washington D.C., Seattle, Houston, Boston, St. Louis, San Diego, Baltimore, Portland, Utah, Atlanta, Fort Worth, Anchorage, Hawaii and with Florida Grand Opera!
Dr. Livengood has been named Alumni of the Year by both alma maters, UNC-Chapel Hill and the Boston Conservatory of Music and holds an honorary doctorate from Jacksonville University. She is also an inductee into the North Carolina Musicians Hall of Fame.
She is in demand for her highly acclaimed Master Classes across the globe and offers consultations and private vocal instruction when her schedule allows. The "Dixie Diva's" upcoming itinerary can be viewed on her official web site at www.victorialivengood.com.
Although she has graced FGO's stage before, it has been nearly 2 decades since her most recent performance. Needless to say we are thrilled to be welcoming back The Dixie Diva herself, Victoria Livengood, in the role of The Mother during our upcoming production of Gian Carlo Menotti's thrilling The Consul this May!
To see Victoria Livengood perform the role of The Mother in Florida Grand Opera's gripping production of Menotti's The Consul from May 9-16, simply call FGO's Box Office at 800.741.1010 Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm, or order securely online at FGO.org.
CLICK HERE TO ORDER YOUR TICKETS
Update (04/30/2015): To listen to Justin Moss's audio interview with the Dixie Diva, please click here: https://soundcloud.com/floridagrandopera/interview-with-victoria-livengood
Miss Vickie, welcome! Or should we call you The Dixie Diva? Can you tell our patrons about your famous nickname and its origin story?
Well, I am from North Carolina, in the heart of Dixie, and still talk with a Southern accent that kind of makes me the Elly May Clampett of the opera world. Soon after my career began, an interviewer took advantage of the alliteration in his interview title, and I loved it and adopted it as my own nickname. It has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?
It really does! The role of The Mother is not the Dixie Diva's first time on the FGO stage. When was the last time you’ve performed with us?
I was actually hired to work the Florida Grand Opera as one of my very first jobs in my professional career. They heard me as a young artist at the Wolf Trap Opera and offered me the title role in Menotti’s The Medium for their educational tour in 1985, the same year that I had just hit the scene as a Met auditions winner.Then, my house debut came two years later in 1987 and it was as Flora in La Traviata, followed by Queen Gertrude in Hamlet later that same season. I have some great photos of that Hamlet production in my keepsakes, as well. But, this is the first time I have returned to the company since then, so that makes this return even more meaningful to me.
We are thrilled to have you back after all this time! Just curious: Have you worked with any of your fellow castmates before?
Yes, Kara Shay Thomson and I did Figaro together with Toledo Opera and then worked together in the summer of 2012 with the Santa Fe Opera, albeit on different shows.Jason Ferrante and I just did Figaro together with the Atlanta Opera so we are spending a couple of months working together this season.
That's fantastic! Always great to have familiar faces to perform alongside. We also heard that you are quite familiar performing this opera as well. Can you please describe your previous experiences with The Consul?
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| Madame Flora, The Medium, L'opera de Monte Carlo |
Then, Menotti was set to direct The Consul in Buenos Aires at the famous Teatro Colon, and he took me with him to sing the role of the Secretary for my debut with that prestigious company.
I have such amazing memories of both productions and the recording process, all under Menotti’s direction and guidance. It was an invaluable experience for any singer, but especially for a young singer. He was truly a champion of mine and a mentor to me. He and I became very close during those years and he went on to bring me back to his festival in Italy every summer until his death.
We also did even more close collaborations when I played the title role in The Medium with him directing and that took me to debuts in many important places, including Monte Carlo. Menotti had traveled to Monte Carlo for the opening night of my Medium performances, which is the reason that he actually passed away in Monte Carlo and not in Italy.
That experience was surreal for me, and I was able to sing at his funeral services in Monte Carlo as well as at his memorial services and concerts at his beloved Spoleto Festival in Italy. I remain close to his remaining family, his son and his grandsons, to this day.
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| Victoria Livengood with Gian Carlo Menotti |
That is truly wonderful that you have had such a wonderful connection to this great composer. Can you describe what attracts you to keep performing his operas?
I adore the way that Menotti is able to offer singers such fully drawn characters through his music and his honest storytelling abilities in his librettos. Right down to the smallest roles in his operas, he cared about each and every character that he brought to life. Having worked so closely beside him, I want to be a champion for his work and for him. I want his music and stories to live on forever. |
| Madame Flora, The Medium, Seagle Music Colony, NY |
I am so happy to get to delve into this new role of the Mother, in an opera that I love so much and have such a close connection to. I spent hours upon hours discussing these characters with GC (that was our nickname for Menotti, and he loved it) and especially in roles like Madame Flora in The Medium, I always try to stick to what I know he wanted to bring out in her character and her music. What a gift that has been in my life!
We're thrilled that we get to experience you coming "full circle" on your musical journey! Shifting gears a little: Can you describe the plot of The Consul in 10 words or less?
A passionate, yet tragic, tale of oppression and desperation!Speaking of tragedy: What is one piece of advice you would give the Mother or Magda, if you knew them in real life?
“When a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in,
he has no choice but to become an outlaw.”
he has no choice but to become an outlaw.”
-- Nelson Mandela
These strong women were victims and did the very best that they could under impossible circumstances. Their heroism, bravery, and perseverance are qualities that all women aspire to. They did their very best.
What are the top reasons why South Florida audiences need to see The Consul?
The Consul operatic experience offers everything a great film or a great book offers its audiences. |
| Livengood as The Secretary |
You will laugh and you will cry and you will leave changed. That’s my idea of a great book, movie, or opera. This is not to be missed!
For audience members who may be intimidated by “modern opera,” how would you describe the music?
All of Menotti’s operas were influenced by his days in Hollywood and could be compared to film scores in their sweeping scale. He was often compared to Puccini in terms of his beautiful melodies and his libretti are honest and poetic story telling.His operas are always very theatrical and dramatic. They move even the most stoic listener. Both his vocal writing, his orchestrations, and his ensemble writing (like the trio in this opera) wash over the listener with passion and power as well as with simplicity. I have sung in many modern operas and trust me, this is not like that at all.
You’ve performed many roles throughout your long career so far. Is there still a role or two that you haven’t sung yet but hope to perform in the future?
On the top of my wish list would have to be Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd and also the Old Lady in Candide. Also, Dame Quickly in Falstaff. And Countess Geschwitz in Lulu, which I covered at the Met but never got to perform.Actually, I have quite a wish list, since I only recently changed my repertoire and sort of reinvented myself in a new fach. I have been learning several new roles each year for the past several years, even though I have been in the business for 30 years.
If your photo was used for the front-cover story of a major newspaper, what would you want the headline to say?
The Dixie Diva: Making a Difference!
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